John C. Guckert was born Thursday, September 22, 1921 in Sandusky, Ohio .
he died Sunday, November 29, 2009. his recorded age was 88.
he was a veteran .
GUCKERT Dr. John Cecil Guckert, 88, passed away on Sunday, November 29 in Florida. He was born September 22, 1921 as the only child to John and Elsie Guckert of Sandusky, Ohio. He married Joyce Pierson from Worthington, Ohio on August 12, 1950. He is survived by his loving wife of Florida; two daughters, Karen Schnorf of Florida and Lisa Cox of Missouri; two grandchildren, John and Lisa Schnorf; and one cousin, Rita Cecil. After high school he attended Baldwin & Wallace College where his studies were interrupted by World War II. He graduated from the United States Naval Midshipman School at Northwestern University and was assigned duties as a landing craft officer of troops and supplies as part of the invasion force of Okinawa in 1945 and subsequently served as part of the initial occupation force of Hiroshima. Dr. Guckert remained in the Naval Reserves and completed 20 years of active reserve duty. He completed his education at the Ohio State University earning his B.S. and M.A. degrees in Education and was recalled to active duty in 1951 during the Korean War conflict. After the war he served as an administrative assistant at Ohio State and taught at Westerville High School while completing his Ph.D. in Education and Middle East History at Ohio State. Dr. Guckert accepted a tenure tract position at Eastern Illinois University in 1968 where he taught for many years until retiring. He was recognized by his students with the Outstanding Teacher Award, a campus wide award of which he was very proud. He was active with competitive target shooting in both Ohio and Illinois and won many shooting competitions in both states before relocating to Florida in 1998 where he continued his enjoyment of this lifelong hobby. He also enjoyed traveling around the United States and was an active member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church which he regularly attended. Service for Dr. Guckert will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 5, 2009 at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085, where family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Rev. Art Haimerl officiating. Burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Eastern Illinois University Foundation-Dr. John Guckert Scholarship Fund, 860 W. Lincoln, Charleston, IL 61920.